Why Beyonder Is Over-Powered

Superman has been said to be over-powered, and in fact, one of the most powerful characters in comic books. One character that deserves mention, however, is the Beyonder.

'Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars'

We get introduced to the Beyonder in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars, a 12-issue comic book crossover series spanning the entire Marvel universe. It begins with The Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men—with Magneto —and Spider-Man, as well as Galactus and their respective team of villains, transported in space stations in space.

Soon, a galaxy is erased from existence and from its place is formed a rocky planet named Battleworld.

"I am from beyond! Slay your enemies and all you desire shall be yours!"

The Beyonder places the heroes and the villains at different ends of the planet. It is filled with varying climates, a rocky terrain, wildlife, and even some inhabitants.

From the outset, the heroes as characteristic of most Marvel stories, are filled with distrust for one another. Some are willing to take part of Battleworld's game, others are willing to examine the Beyonder's promise, and others still simply want to find a way to get home.

Battles and skirmishes ensue on Battleworld though Captain America is obviously elected as the leader of the heroes and Dr. Doom is elected as the leader of the villains. The villains decide to fight to obtain their hearts' desire. Colossus falls in love with the alien Zsaji, who has healing powers, though Human Torch has a fling with her. It is likely that her powers are empathetic and have an effect on emotions.

There are injuries and casualties along the way. In Marvel Super Heroes Secret WarsPart 8 titled "Invasion," Spider-Man gets a new black costume and bonds with an alien symbiote.

In Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars Part 9, "Assault on Galactus," the heroes assault Galactus' attempt at absorbing the energy of Battleworld in order to do battle with Beyonder and convince him to take away his hunger to consume worlds. His plan is thwarted by Thing cutting down the mountain upon which rests his matter converter and Iron Man "trashing" the machine (Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #9). Galactus succeeds in getting away and absorbs all the energy of Taa II, his solar system-sized home world. Dr. Doom, sensing an opportunity, re-directs the energy to his private lab and steals Galactus energy.

Battle commences with the Beyonder between Beyonder and Dr. Doom.

In Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars Part 11, "...And Dust to Dust!", Dr. Doom emerges victorious from his battle with Beyonder and actually shows his healed face to the heroes. His godhood bothers the heroes and he assures them of his benevolence. At the end of the issue, he attacks the heroes assembled fatally.

The Beyonder regains his powers in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars Part 12, "Nothing to Fear."

"The Beyonder reclaims his power"

The heroes are transported back to Earth. The villains are transported from their location, ripped from Battleword, drifting into space back to Earth by the powers of the Molecule Man. Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars was particularly important for showing the ascendancy of Molecule Man to complete mastery of his powers and to godhood. He plays a determinant role in subsequent series.

Why The Beyonder is over-powered

In Secret Wars II (1985) a nine-issue crossover comic book series, The Beyonder actually comes to Earth in the search of understanding an important concept of humanity which is desire.

The Beyonder is actually from the Beyond-Realm.

"The Beyonder was the sum total of a pocket dimension called the Beyond-Realm or simply "Beyond", hence the name "Beyonder." This dimension was accidentally accessed by nebbish lab technician Owen Reece. Part of the energy from the dimension escaped and imbued Reece with near-infinite powers, which he wielded as the villainous Molecule Man—potentially one of the most powerful villains in the Universe. The remaining energy of the pocket dimension apparently gained sentience and curiosity. Using its vast powers, the Beyonder created a planet called "Battleworld" out of pieces of various planets (one such piece being a suburb of Denver) and abducted a number of superheroes and super-villains from Earth so that he could observe the never-ending battle between good and evil that rages within humanity at large."-- Beyonder (Marvel), Comic Book DB

Comic Book DB lists Pre-Retcon Beyonder as omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.

By feats, there is no limit to The Beyonder's power, and he represents in reality the capacity for wish fulfillment and fantasy. The power of The Beyonder is imagination, and he is able to do anything that he imagines irrespective of all scientific laws and physical laws of the Marvel multiverse.

Here, Beyonder effortlessly erases a galaxy and creates Battleworld.

Beyonder destroys a galaxy!

Beyonder plucks heroes from some prior point in the time stream and brings them to now!

Beyonder controls animate life-forms and inanimate matter!

Beyonder kills Death!

By feats alone, Beyonder is God, a character of limitless power who enters from his Beyond-Realm dimension into the Marvel multiverse in order to investigate aspects of desire and live the good life.

There seemingly is no way to stop Beyonder unless he allows it or somehow restrains his senses. Beyonder seems like Marvel's answer to the question of turning God into pure fantasy as a character that does not respect the laws of science and physics, but who uses his imagination and willpower to affect things at a multiversal scale.

Beyonder is a character that cannot be defeated by anyone, save himself. At the end of Secret Wars II, Beyonder actually decides to shed his godhood and become human.

Beyonder becomes human!

Beyonder ends up getting killed by Molecule Man.

Retcon Beyonder

"The Beyonder (Cosmic Cube) In this retcon the Beyonder was no-longer a true God he was turned into a newborn cosmic cube who were the many children of the All-Powerful race known as the "Beyonders" he was purposely exposed by his race to observe and mimic what he perceived and as Hank Pym described his power to make an entire universe into a toy and where his Race makes entire Universes into Toys."-- Beyonder (Marvel), Comic Book DB

Reception

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars was generally well received, though the sequel, Secret Wars II, was not.